*•.DB🩸 | "In the midst of the flames and chaos, when all seemed lost, Jacaerys found her eyes. There was something in her gaze that called to him, something more powerful than dragon fire. In that moment, he knew that the fate of his heart was seal...
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i. the court
✮˚. ᵎᵎ𖦹彡‧₊˚────୨ৎ────✮˚. ᵎᵎ𖦹彡‧₊˚
"During the reign of King Viserys Targaryen, the warriors who wore gold cloaks spoke with reverence of the king's young niece. Nathearys Targaryen, true blood of the dragon. Despite her disdain for traditional roles of men and women, they recognized an unparalleled strength in Nathearys. Even when she was just a child."
-Septa Eglantine
✮˚. ᵎᵎ𖦹彡‧₊˚────୨ৎ────✮˚. ᵎᵎ𖦹彡‧₊˚
i . the court
NATHEARYS TARGARYEN was not known for her obedience, but for her boldness and immense curiosity. The young silver-haired girl had been at the castle for quite some time since her father was still part of the council of her uncle Viserys, the king. She wasn't much interested in the tangled world of kings and queens, but she did enjoy their company, loved and adored her cousins, and grew up under the care, affection, and love of the Targaryen-Hightower family, to the point where she was treated almost as one of them.
As she grew older, Nathearys became a prominent figure at court, not only for her beauty and lineage but also for her wit and bravery. Her rebellious spirit led her to question authority, often clashing with those who stood in her way. Among them, one of her greatest obstacles was one of her second cousins, Jacaerys Targaryen.
Jacaerys, heir to the throne, was the complete opposite of Nathearys. Calm, calculating, and committed to duty, he saw his cousin as a constant source of trouble. To him, Nathearys was a distraction in the delicate balance of power at court.
The young girl received training from both her father and Ser Harwin Strong, taking full advantage of every lesson. During these training sessions, when Rhaenyra's sons approached, Nathearys used her newly acquired skills to try to capture Jace's attention.
"Look, Jace!" exclaimed the little girl, throwing a knife at the target they used for practice. "I haven't missed once!"
"Yeah, sure," said the brown-haired boy without even looking at her.
"Amazing, Thearys," said a small Aemond, who admired the girl. "I saw you."
But the girl only lowered her head, defeated. She was glad she always had Aemond, but he wasn't the one she was interested in. In her mind, she only wondered why Jace acted the way he did. She didn't want Aemond's attention; she wanted Jace's and only Jace's.
"You've trained enough for today, princess," said Ser Harwin. "I think we can finish."
"No!" she exclaimed. "I need to be better; otherwise, Jace will never notice me."
"May I ask, princess, why such a good and impressive girl worries about a boy who couldn't beat you in a duel?" He bent down to her level, speaking in that sweet and fatherly voice he was known for. "I'm just saying, the day that boy can beat you in a fight, you might, might worry a little about him. Aemond Targaryen is always on your heels. Why not pay a little attention to him?"
"Duh, because he's not Jace," said the silver-haired girl as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and Harwin Strong just chuckled.
"Well, to be the best, you have to train like the best. Go get the bow."
The little girl ran with a big smile to fetch the bow.
*.•
"Helaena!" she exclaimed excitedly upon seeing her beloved cousin.
The king's youngest daughter was not usually very talkative; she mostly remained silent. However, Nathearys greatly enjoyed her company. They also shared a common hobby: reading. The castle's maesters frequently commented that both girls were wiser, more intelligent, and more educated than many of the adults at court.
Helaena slightly lifted her head when she saw her cousin, smiling faintly. Nathearys stood to greet her and gave her a warm hug.
"Nathearys," said Helaena, "it's been three days since we last saw each other."
"I know. Father and Ser Harwin say I can become the best if I train hard enough," replied Nathearys. "But I think I deserve a break, and what better way to spend it than with one of my favorite people in the Seven Kingdoms," she added, taking a piece of bread from Princess Helaena's quarters.
The younger girl noticed something strange about her cousin. Although Helaena was not known for being outgoing, this time there seemed to be something more. Her usually serene brow was furrowed, showing concern or discomfort. Nathearys sensed something was wrong and, without saying a word, Helaena understood that Thearys had already noticed.
"Laena," she approached gently, "what's wrong?"
Helaena lowered her head, unable to meet her eyes. For a moment, there were no sobs or sounds, just a solitary tear running down her cheek. Nathearys decided to wait in silence until Helaena was ready to speak. Their mutual understanding was that simple.
"I have to get married," Helaena finally said, pausing. "To Aegon. But I don't want to."
"Oh, Laena," Nathearys felt bad for her. Although they were still young, both understood that their lives would be marked by political considerations. Nathearys found comfort in knowing her father would never force her into anything, but for Helaena, it was different. Just having Alicent Hightower as a mother seemed like a curse for her.
Nathearys took Helaena's hand tenderly.
"Everything will be fine. I won't let anything happen to you. You'll have to marry your useless brother, but you are more than that, and you'll show it."
Helaena nodded gratefully, feeling comforted by her cousin's words. She knew the challenges ahead would be great, but at least she wouldn't have to face them alone—or so they thought in their innocence.
🪽🧝🏻♀️ A rather short chapter, with a little bit of Helaena and Nathearys before the intense stuff begins. Leave your recommendations, suggestions, and what you'd like to see in this fanfic. I always read your comments :) <3
